Apple Launches iBeacon App to Tailor In-Store Shopping Experience

With the help of Bluetooth technology, shoppers can now tailor their shopping experience inside one of 254 Apple stores throughout the United States, through the new iBeacon mobile app.

Apple launched the capability on Dec. 6 and, according to an article from the Associated Press, while a user has to agree to certain terms of service to use the app, such as allowing Apple to track your location, they must have the iOS 7 software which was released in September.

Apple demonstrated the technology to The Associated Press earlier this week at its Fifth Avenue store in New York City and, according to the article, Apple installed roughly 20 iBeacon transmitters using Bluetooth wireless technology, “to sense” a user’s exact location.

Shoppers using the app, according to the article, will be guided through the Apple store to pick up an order item, upgrade a device, or shop for a certain product. Certain notifications will be based on a user’s location within the store, according to the article; users can even receive notifications about Apple deals or upcoming events.

Apple is not the first merchant to offer this type of in-store location technology, according to the article, Macy’s and J.C. Penney, began using an app called Shopkick, to send shoppers discounts on their mobile devices when they entered those brick-and-mortar stores.

According to the article, Major League Baseball already plans to use the technology in 2014 “to customize fans’ experiences at its ballparks, provided they download the At The Ballpark app to their iPhones or iPads and have iOS 7 installed.”

Erin Lynch is the senior content producer at Multichannel Merchant. Erin can be reached (203)899-8461 or connect with her socially on Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn.